Device to lock braces of sectional scaffolding



May 3, 1960 D. F. MARR, JR 2,935,346

DEVICE T0 LOCK BRACES OF SECTIONAL SCAFFOLDING Filed Jan. 31, 1958 DEVICE TO LOCK BRACES OF SECTIONAL SCAFFOLDING Daniel F. Marr, Jr., Milton, Mass.

Application January 31, 1958, Serial No. 712,435

1 Claim. (Cl. 28753.5)

This invention relates to a device to lock braces used on an upright member of a sectional scaffold.

One object of my invention is to provide such a locking device that is formed in one piece of only two main members.

Another object is to provide such a locking device that directly contacts a scaffold upright, yet will smoothly slide by gravity into locking position to thereby retain braces, for instance, in predetermined position, on a scaffold.

A further object is to provide such a locking device that is compact, simple to attach to, and detach from, a scafiold, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

The foregoing and other objects, which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction, combination and arrangement, such as is disclosed by the drawing. The nature of the invention is such as to render it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and, therefore, I am not to be limited to the construction disclosed by the drawing nor to the particular parts described in the specification; but am entitled to all such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of my claim.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my locking device attached to an upright member of a scaffold, and in unlocked position.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 1; but showing my device in locked position, the scaffold upright being shown broken away.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

As illustrated, my locking device has a sliding member 14 in the main body 16 of which is an elongate, closed slot 18. There are two sliding legs 19 and 20 extending away from said body at opposite sides of, which extend upwardly beyond and below said slot, in position of use. The laterally inward elongate edges of said legs are beveled as at 19a and 20:: respectively. The inner, elonnited States Patent gate edges of said body, that define said slot 18, are also beveled as at 18a.

A locking member 24 is integral with, and extends from, said main body 16, and it has a connecting portion 26 extending above said body in position of use, from which extends a bridge portion 28 which is also above said body. A forked portion 30 extends downwardly from said bridge portion and it has an elongate slot 32 therein, open at the bottom, and which is directly opposite a portion of said slot 18, preferably extending slightly higher than the latter, when my device is in position of use. Said forked portion 30, at said slot 32, is spaced outwardly from said body a substantially uniform distance.

My device is attached to the tubular upright 34 of a sectional scaflold, which upright has a threaded stud 36 welded thereto that tapers in thickness outwardly and which extends horizontally through said elongate slots 18 and 32. A screw-threaded nut 38 makes screwthreaded connection on said stud 36 outside said sliding member 14 and inwardly of said locking member 24, thus movably locking my device on said upright.

When a brace, or braces B, are being placed on said stud 36, my device is kept in unlocked position shown in said Fig. 1. Thereupon, said device is released and it drops by gravity until said body 16 at the upper end of said slot 18 reaches said stud 36, where it is supported, thus locking said braces in position.

Said beveled edges 19a and 2011 contact said scaffold upright 34 so that said main body 16 slides freely on the latter. Also said beveled edges 18a defining the sides of said slot 18, contact said stud, hence they slide freely on the latter.

What I claim is:

A locking device for a scafiold comprising in position of use, a main body, two legs at opposite sides of said body, and extending inwardly thereof, said body having a closed slot, the inner edges of said body that define said slot being beveled, and the laterally inward edges of said legs being beveled, and a locking member integral with said main body embodying a connecting portion extending from, and upwardly beyond, said main body, a bridge portion extending laterally from and beyond said connecting portion, and above said main body, and a forked portion extending downwardly, in position of use, from said bridge portion and having an open slot therethrough directly opposite, extending higher than, and in front of, said main body slot, all of said forked portion, at its said slot, being spaced outwardly from said body, a uniform distance.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,716,576 Nordone Aug. 30, 1955 

